NEWARK, NJ — Democratic Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, representing New Jersey’s 10th District, could soon face federal assault charges following a chaotic confrontation at the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark.
The incident, which unfolded last week, has sparked controversy and drawn national attention to the freshman lawmaker’s actions during what she described as a routine oversight visit.
McIver, alongside Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and fellow Democratic Representatives Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez, arrived at Delaney Hall, a recently reopened immigration detention center, to inspect conditions and ensure compliance with federal standards. Tensions escalated when federal agents arrested Baraka for alleged trespassing, prompting a scuffle involving McIver and ICE officers.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the Justice Department is preparing to bring charges against McIver, accusing her of physically assaulting federal officers during the altercation.
Body camera footage circulating online appears to show McIver, identifiable by her red blazer, engaging in physical contact with agents near the facility’s gate. Federal authorities claim she shoved and struck officers while attempting to intervene in Baraka’s arrest. McIver and her colleagues have vehemently denied these allegations, asserting they were exercising their congressional oversight authority and were met with unwarranted aggression from ICE personnel.
“This was not an assault but a lawful attempt to do our jobs,” McIver said in a statement following the incident. “The treatment we received reflects the broader abuses within this administration’s immigration policies. We will not be intimidated.”
The confrontation has polarized opinions. Supporters of McIver, including local activists and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, argue that she and her colleagues were unfairly targeted for challenging the Trump administration’s immigration agenda. Murphy called the potential charges “outrageous,” emphasizing the lawmakers’ right to inspect federal facilities. Critics, however, accuse McIver of reckless behavior, with some drawing comparisons to past incidents of civil disobedience, arguing that her actions endangered officers and detainees.
Delaney Hall, a 1,000-bed facility operated by the private prison company GEO Group, has been a flashpoint in Newark since its reopening earlier this year. City officials, including Baraka, have criticized its operation, citing concerns over safety protocols and the treatment of detainees. The facility is part of the administration’s expanded immigration enforcement efforts, housing individuals accused of serious crimes, according to ICE officials.
As the Justice Department moves forward, interim U.S. Attorney Alina Habba is expected to announce charges soon.
McIver, represented by prominent attorneys Paul Fishman and Lee Cortes, may turn herself in sources indicate. The case is likely to intensify debates over immigration policy, congressional oversight, and the limits of protest in an increasingly divided political landscape.
McIver, the first Black woman to represent New Jersey in Congress, has positioned herself as a vocal advocate for her constituents since her election in 2024. The outcome of this legal battle could have significant implications for her political career and the broader Democratic resistance to federal immigration policies.